Bicycle Ride to North Carolina

Will McMahan, a member of Grandma K's Church has set off on a little bicycle ride. Share his adventures by clicking on the picture to visit his Blog.

Key Art Award -

Julia's nephew Rob Hammond and his friend Andre are up for awards in the Motion Graphics category at the KEY ART AWARD. This is for their work on the "trailer" for the movie Shoot'em Up.

More later

Go Cruise'n NOVEMBER

After almost 2 years of flapping my lips about how I want to go on another cruise, I found myself sitting in a traffic jamb in Eastern Washington, wondering why I had not made this vacation commitment. I dared to ask Julia who was sitting next to me, why I don't just make it happen. Not long after we stopped at the Indian John rest stop by the side of I-90, with traffic crawling like the worst rush hour jamb ever seen, I flipped open my phone and called my Carnival Cruise lady Jennie Zak, of course I keep her number in my phone, don't you have Carnival's number in yours? I left a message to call me and make this happen.

Tuesday Jennie called and I made my reservations. 2 rooms one for us and one for the boys.

I am hoping family and friends will join us on this trip.

The price is low now but as the ship fills rates WILL go up.

When: November sailing
Ship: Triumph

Call me for my cruise contact information

Julia Gets a New Desk

Julia Started her new job this week. Months and weeks of study finally pay off. She is now a proud employee. She even has an office with a door. Here is a small peek at her desk.

Sarah's Relay For Life

Sarah's Team raised a great deal of money to aid in the fight against Cancer. Sarah place 5th as an individual.

Great Job !

Dogs need water too

Do I know how dogs need to drink, I am sure most owners know dogs need to drink and drink the do... City dogs often find water in many many places that we would never consider drinking ... like this young doggy finding his fountain of youth in a fine cold porcelain dish. His owner often polishes it and protects it by sitting on it and even cuddles it on nights she has been laughing out loud keeping the neighbors up.

Less fortunate city dogs must resort to public drinking fountains such as one might find in a park or along the street. These dogs are often glad to have this water.

Others need to settle for lakes, ponds and pools to find a drink.

While other dogs must resort to tricks such as drinking out of a creation designed to turn on only when the would be drinker presses his nose against the magic button. Humans find this very amusing to watch the smart little puppy getting a drink.

Some dog owners even teach their loved pets finer living. They teach them how to live with the human to the point we almost forget they are our four legged friends. Our best friend at times but none the less a dog.

When humans begin to get all nature freaky pets find themselves doing the strangest thing for a drink of water. This is truly disturbing behaviors dogs must endure. I have chosen to devote my life to the study of this bizarre ritual.

I have seen humans drizzling water bottle while some poor doggy needs to guess when and how much water will be allowed to quench their thirst.

Still others only allow a cap full of water at a time.

Other tricky humans use modified bed pans as wilderness drinking containers.

But then there is the most bizarre of all the human behavior, the "Larissa move" for her doggy Woody. Larissa denies this behavior but often forgets the world is full of cameras. She assures everyone she is normal and Woody, her best friend would never stand for such behavior. He has his own bowl -- or does he?

WWU Sarah's "Relay For Life"

Sarah Haggerty, Julia's daughter at WWU has joined one of the teams raising funds for the American Cancer Society - "Relay for Life".

Her team "Relay Committee" is doing great work - if you would like to help click on the Relay For Life logo and donate to her team. Your contribution will not only help fight against cancer but will give credit to Sarah and her team for this great fund raising effort.

Off the web site; Each year, across the nation, one event brings together entire communities to take part in the fight against cancer. That event is the American Cancer Society Relay For Life®. It’s a time and place where people come to celebrate those who have survived cancer, remember those we’ve lost, and fight back against a disease that touches too many lives.

Won’t you join us this year and be a part of Relay? It’s not just an opportunity to celebrate, remember, and fight back - your involvement will help the American Cancer Society work toward a mission of eliminating cancer as major health issue and will support much-needed services in your community. Thanks in part to the donations from Relay For Life and other events, the Society is saving lives, helping those touched by cancer, and empowering people to fight this disease all over the world.

Julia's Birthday week...

WOW I have never had so much fun in one week. I am sure Julia had a great week too. We started the week off with a fantastic 50th birthday party for Deneese. Here we all met at MacAroni Grill Alderwood Mall Deneese of course was surprised, not! We ate visited and ate some more. Elizabeth's cake creation was a beautiful spring basket full of flowers. It was equally tasty too. Little too bad Deneese needed sooooooo many candles we could hardly see the cake through the blazing candles.

On Friday afternoon I enlisted the FBI's assistance for a little cake at Julia's FBI Citizens Academy on Wednesday night. This was a great night for this because it was actually her birthday that night. The cake had to be picked up and delivered before 1100 Wednesday AM. This meant I needed to have the cake bought and ready before Spin Class on Tuesday night and I could not let on that I was up to something, which is incredibly hard for me. Yes Julia continues to be a spin monster and puts most of us in the class to shame. I can't believe I forgot to take a picture of the cake for everyone to see, it was chocolate with yellow and red roses, very special like her. I included a party hat too. FBI was great and let her wear the pretty party hat while they all broke out in a wonderful number you might recognize as the Happy Birthday Song. Julia also had her own surprises for me too. Wednesday she called and told me her garage door had broken. I called my favorite garage door supply company in Everett. Julia dashed up to Everett and was so fast I could not get them prepared for the birthday girl. After work I was talking to Julia once again and should not have been surprised when she told me she did not want to go to the FBI class... WHAT! No way, she had to go.... garage door or not. I jumped on the I-5 and drove straight to her house. We fixed the broken door and she could now go to class... Whew! PARTY On girl, I could hardly keep from cheering as I watched her drive off down the road. Garage door fixed I returned home to finish wrapping her presents before she stops by the house and accidentally finds her gifts. Oh I got her great stuff too. It was hard to wait but wait we needed to do.... since she was already wearing the first gift that I could not wait to give, wait we did... until our Saturday. Which started very early 0600 wake up for a surprise and special trip to McLendon's Hardware. Yes indeed what a surprise. here we bought wonderful huge Fuchsia baskets. Crazy as it seems we bumped into my oldest sister, seems she beat us to the sale by almost 15 minutes. After our 0700 shopping trip we when to breakfast at Maltby Cafe. Here I gave Julia her red Porsche, who would have know she wanted one ... Costco came through too... so a red Porsche she got. I also selected some other cool stuff too but she needed to wait until later in the day to open those gifts. If fact I made her wait until just before we left for dinner to open the big gift. For dinner we went to a great place called Pasta Freska. This was a wonderful place on Westlake Avenue, no menus and extremely personal service by the owner and his crew. Here we were treated to wonderful food that was nearly endless. Dinner was followed by dessert and candles and that wonderful song "Happy Birthday" once again. Julia was showered with gifts and great company.

Happy Birthday.

Julia is a good sport for all the endless pictures I take.

Happy Mothers Day to all

Hugs and Love to all moms.

2008 Mandarory Boater Education 20 and under

Remember this year everyone 20 and under needs a Mandatory Boater Education card to operate a motor boat.

If you don't want to paddle or row you need this card.

10 or more Family, Friends or church group, college buddies or what ever I can come to you and teach the 8 hour class FREE.

Call me or look on line for the classes near you.

soon something new

Yes I know again I am behind... Summer is chasing me and I shall quickly improve on my task as editor. I have photos of Arron running in his final track meets ending his running season for 2008. Flowers Blooming, pressure washing, Birthday celebrations and FBI sing-a-longs and if that doesn't sound like enough I still have more ... can't wait to share it all. Pictures, ahhhh yes, I am pretty sure they will tell much more then my little words ever could ... oh yes I am in my element with this.

Don't forget Mothers Day either...

Snow to slow our leap into summer

I feel normal now ... my spring fever is in tune with the weather. See this is helping Julia feel she has plenty of time to heal, and no standing at spin. We don't want to scare the physical therapists. When this snow melts I feel Summer will begin. Flowers will arrive for me to plant and all is well as we live in peace and harmony.

Time to write more

In the last few days I have returned to several REI stores halfway across the Puget Sound. Seeking and searching for something soooo important I can't remember what it was at this moment. Ha yes the sleeping pad for Corey. Seems we bought the wrong one, the square one, and finding the right one, the tapered one, proved to be a challenge. Next time I will know to look for the purple bag with the black bottom. Not the Purple bag with purple bottom. Focus is always a problem for me at REI. This photo has once again proven the point as I am seen trying on the dog tent for size.
Later while standing in line at the local NAPA parts counter I noticed a stack of cool looking magnifying glasses. WOW how nifty, I think as I convince myself I might be able to read the map books again. Of course I bought one. Come to find out I was not the only one to buy a magnifying glass this week... Hmmmm must be the bonus that comes with the AARP mail.
Boots and more boots, these make me laugh. Julia's knee continues to improve and she is seriously going to be doing great things this summer. I was concerned when I noticed the boot collection growing. How does she fit them into her purse?
This next picture is worth so much more then what meets the eye, a hot summer day on a fine Saturday evening, relaxing after a perfect day with the best company in the world, Sipping soft drinks seated outside where we watched people going by while enjoying dinner.
Curiously enough after a great summer weekend we find snow along the walk way to grandpa's house. This is the reason I am not yet into my flower fever. Sooooon I hope. I feel it growing but until after this coming cold weekend I shall resist well into next week.
To dive or not to dive, lights are good for so many things. I found these BOWHEAD strobe lights most enjoyable and bought 3 for us to wear while diving. They come in yellow wrap and orange wrap. They make great alternate to messy road flares. These are strong enough to drive over, are water tight to 300 feet, they float if you drop them and seem nearly unbreakable. Next week I will tell you how if break one. This will increase our diver buddy visibility and increase our safety.

Looking for something - found it

I was skeptical but played along... after all it coincides with current events.

• I liked my answers.
• You must play fair, no cheating.
• Oh yes turn the music off.
• Click here to go there.

Boots made for Hiking....

Julia gets new boots, REI Redmond- no, REI Seattle- no and REI Lynnwood- yes. Need I say more, right boots in the right color.

If I know anything I know there will be dust flying, mud splatting and cool mountain water slurping this summer. I can only hope we are up for the challenge she will give us this year. Everyone better be making their way to the gym and getting in shape for this summer.

I am looking at the pictures she took of her fancy new boots. A couple thoughts pass through my mind .... something about the Wizard of OZ sticks. What do you think?

Just tap your heels together three times my dear.... you shall have happy trails appear before you all summer .... :~) yes you have the power and Kansas is not where your heading.